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Opinion: Guest Opinions

Golden Run can create bright future in Erie

By Aaron Harber

Posted:
03/23/2014 01:00:00 AM MDT

It is unfortunate several Erie candidates may be forfeiting the town's best opportunity for sustainability and Economic Development in exchange for short-term political gain by misrepresenting Golden Run (GoldenRun.com). Here are some facts to consider.

I am a resident of Erie and have lived on the proposed Golden Run property for 25 years. When I moved here, there were about 1,000 people in Erie. Plans to add 20,000 were proposed, with promises of economic development. The people came but the economic development didn't. That is why adding another 20,000 more people with the same types of housing— as already has been approved by past leaders — is no guarantee significant economic development will occur, despite the assurances of some candidates and the former Erie mayor behind them. Even with its population growth, Erie has seen its one RTD route cut back. And, as is the case with some communities, continued growth has not resulted in significant economic development (for instance, Highlands Ranch).

The truth is Erie collects almost no sales taxes relative to most Boulder County municipalities including Boulder, Lafayette, Broomfield, and Longmont. Although some candidates claim they understand economic development, it hasn't happened under their watches. The residential projects they previously approved only have contributed to urban sprawl. As a result, unlike most communities, Erie has few amenities and funds them via real estate taxes, like its Community Center.

Getting brick-and-mortar retailers today has become very difficult because as retail sales move to the Internet, companies are hesitant to open new locations. They require the combination of density and nearby traffic Golden Run would offer.

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The concept of Golden Run's ultra-high density neighborhood is to create an environment where cars are unnecessary, where people can walk to retail outlets, restaurants, theaters, and places of recreation and employment. This means that, even with large numbers of people, impacts are minimized.

Golden Run's emphasis on the 18- to 29 year-old and especially the 55-plus demographics (especially the latter) means adding a population to Erie with the disposable income to subsidize the entire town by paying for amenities (which will be available to all Erie citizens) such an Olympic-quality sports and training complex, other extraordinary recreational facilities, trails and courses with workout stations, an arts districts with a regional performing arts center, a transit center with monorails to I-25 and Boulder, restaurants and cafes, a movie theater, a hotel, community gardens, a business incubator, and 1 Gigabit internet service. That internet service would be 100 times faster than what most citizens have today — a necessity for economic development.

Golden Run's numbers create the foundation for the success of struggling Erie businesses (including Old Town). Erie remains unlikely to attract serious retail because Erie consists almost exclusively of single family homes in a planning area the size of San Francisco. Everyone gets in their cars to go anywhere and the result is they spend their money outside of Erie.

Erie's past leadership conceded all four corners of Highway 7 (Baseline Road) and Interstate 25. Broomfield has come north across Highway 7 and major commercial projects are being constructed on Erie's borders. Erie citizens spend millions of dollars in Northglenn's Larkridge Shopping Center and in Westminster's Orchard Mall as well as at King Soopers and Wal-Mart in Lafayette, not to mention stores in Boulder and Broomfield.

Golden Run offers Erie citizens the opportunity to create an economic core which, due to its sustainable design, will provide stability to Erie for decades while creating a positive national reputation for the town. Golden Run will set an unparalleled standard for sustainability and will demonstrate to other communities how attractive it can be to deploy small homes (micro-houses and small apartments, such as 200 to 400 square-foot units) for active people who want to be outdoors or recreating inside first-class athletic facilities. This is dramatically different from and complementary to Erie's homogenous housing stock.

By working together in a mutually respectful manner, challenges can be addressed so impacts are mitigated. Population density can be distributed strategically. Building heights — which have not been determined by anyone — can be "softened" by terracing structures. And the fact the project will take at least quarter of a century to complete means it will not be overwhelming.

Erie can seize this opportunity to be a national leader. The Golden Run National Sustainability Council is an example of the potential interest in this project (bit.ly/CouncilGR). There will be plenty of time to plan Golden Run so let's take the next few years to do it together.

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